Electric parking brake
General notes G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi- cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the transmission out of park position
P.
R start the vehicle's drive system.
They could also operate the vehicle's equip-
ment. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
The function of the electric parking brake and
the parking lock is dependent on the on-board
voltage. If the on-board voltage is low or if there is a malfunction in the system:
R it may not be possible to apply the released
parking brake
R it may no longer be possible to shift the trans-
mission to position P
X If this is the case, only park the vehicle on
level ground and secure it to prevent it rolling away.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
It may not be possible to release an applied
parking brake if the on-board voltage is low or
there is a malfunction in the system. Contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
The electric parking brake carries out a function check at regular intervals when the drive system
is switched off. The sounds that can be heard
while this is occurring are normal. Applying or releasing manually X
To engage: push handle 0043.
When the electric parking brake is applied,
the red 0049(USA only) or 0024(Canada
only) indicator lamp lights up in the instru-
ment cluster.
The electric parking brake can also be applied when the SmartKey is removed.
X To release: pull handle0043.
The red 0049(USA only) or 0024(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
goes out.
The electric parking brake can only be
released:
R when the SmartKey is in position 1or 2in
the ignition lock (Y page 109) or
R if the ignition was switched on using the
Start/Stop button
Applying automatically When the vehicle's HOLD function is holding the
vehicle at a standstill, the electric parking brake is engaged automatically.
In addition, at least one of the following condi-
tions must be fulfilled:
R the drive system is switched off.
R the driver is not wearing a seat belt and the
driver's door is opened
R there is a system malfunction
R the power supply is insufficient
R the vehicle is stationary for a lengthy period
The red 0049(USA only) or 0024(Canada only)
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up. 130
ParkingDriving and parking
Releasing automatically
Your vehicle's electric parking brake is auto-
matically released if all of the following condi-
tions are met:
R the vehicle has been started.
R the transmission is in position Dor R.
R the seat belt has been fastened.
R you depress the accelerator pedal.
If the transmission is in position R, the tailgate
must be closed.
If your seat belt is not fastened, the following
conditions must be fulfilled to automatically
release the electric parking brake:
R the driver's door is closed.
R you have shifted out of transmission position
P or you have previously driven faster than
2 mph (3 km/h).
Ensure that you do not depress the accelerator
pedal unintentionally. Otherwise the parking
brake will be released and the vehicle will start
to move.
Emergency braking The vehicle can also be braked during an emer-
gency by using the electric parking brake.
X While driving, push handle 0043of the electric
parking brake (Y page 130).
The vehicle is braked as long as you keep
handle 0043of the electric parking brake
pressed. The longer the electric parking brake
handle 0043is depressed, the greater the brak-
ing force.
During braking: R a warning tone sounds
R the Release parking brake
Release parking brake message
appears
R the red 0049(USA only) or 0024(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes
When the vehicle has been braked to a stand-
still, the electric parking brake is applied. Parking the vehicle for a long period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging. If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than six
weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as a
result of lack of use.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop and seek
advice.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop. Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If you operate mobile communication equip-
ment while driving, you will be distracted from traffic conditions. You could also lose controlof the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Only operate this equipment when the vehicleis stationary.
Observe the legal requirements for the country
in which you are driving. Some jurisdictions pro- hibit the driver from using a mobile phone while
driving a vehicle.
If you make a call while driving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operate the telephone
when the traffic situation permits. If you are
unsure, pull over to a safe location and stop
before operating the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers a
distance of 44 ft (approximately 14 m)per sec-
ond. Driving tips
131Driving and parking Z
are completely filled at the same time, the driver
has adopted the most economical driving style
for the selected settings and prevailing condi-
tions. The ECO display border lights up.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual fuel
consumption. The additionally achieved range
displayed under Bonus fr. Start
Bonus fr. Start does not
indicate a fixed consumption reduction.
In addition to driving style, the actual consump- tion is affected by other factors, such as:
R Load
R Tire pressure
R Cold start
R Choice of route
R Active electrical consumers
These factors are not included in the ECO dis-
play.
An economical driving style specially requires
driving at moderate engine speeds.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
"Acceleration" and "Constant", drive the vehicle
in drive program E+orE.
On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g. on the highway, only the outer area for "constant" will
change.
The ECO display summarizes the driving style
from the start of the journey to its completion.
Therefore, there are more marked changes in
the outer areas at the start of a journey. On lon-
ger journeys, there are fewer changes. For more
marked changes, perform a manual rest
(Y page 158).
For more information on the ECO display, see
(Y page 156). Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you increase the recuperation level on slip- pery road surfaces, the drive wheels may lose
their traction. There is an increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Do not increase the recuperation level on slip-
pery road surfaces. The braking performance of the electric motor
using recuperative braking is, in some operating
modes, either reduced or not effective:
R when the condition of charge of the high-volt-
age battery increases
R if the high-voltage battery is not yet at a nor-
mal operating temperature
R when driving close to the maximum speed
R when the vehicle is almost stationary
R in transmission position N
R during and after ESP stability control
If you do not make an additional effort to apply
the brake yourself, the braking effect may not be
sufficient. If necessary, counteract the reduced regenerative braking effect by applying the
brake yourself.
Downhill gradients On long, steep gradients, you must reduce the
load on the brakes by selecting maximum recu-
peration. This helps you to avoid overheating the
brakes and wearing them out excessively.
Recuperation allows the vehicle to be deceler-
ated without placing a load on the braking sys-
tem.
Do not depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. causing the
brakes to rub by constantly applying light pres-
sure to the pedal. This results in excessive and
premature wear to the brake pads.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately. Drive on for a short while. This allows the airflow to
cool the brakes more quickly. Driving tips
133Driving and parking Z
Front wheel
Rear wheel
X Bring the vehicle and wheels into a suitable
position so that you can attach test gage 0083.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 128).
X Engage park position P.
X Switch off the drive system.
X Place test gage 0083between the wheel's
spokes on brake pad/lining 0087.X
Hold test gage 0083vertically on brake disc 0043
and slide measuring pin 0044onto brake
disc 0043.
X Check which color field 0085the arrow on
measuring pin 0044is pointing to.
Green: the brake pad/lining thickness is suf-
ficient.
Red: the brake pad/lining thickness is not
sufficient. Have the brake pads/lining
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
To avoid an inaccurate measurement: R make sure you position the wheels suitably
R do not put the measuring pin on a recess in
the brake disc Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth on
the road surface, there is a danger of hydro-
planing occurring, even if:
R you drive at low speeds
R the tires have adequate tread depth
For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or in
conditions in which hydroplaning may occur,
you must drive in the following manner:
R lower your speed
R avoid ruts
R avoid sudden steering movements
R brake carefully
Driving on flooded roads !
Do not drive through flooded areas. Check
the depth of any water before driving through
it. Drive slowly through standing water. Oth-
erwise, water may enter the vehicle interior or
the engine compartment. This can damage
the electronic components in the engine or
the automatic transmission. Water can also
be drawn in by the engine's air suction nozzles and this can cause engine damage. Winter driving
G
WARNING
If you increase the recuperation level on slip- pery road surfaces, the drive wheels may lose Driving tips
135Driving and parking
Z
Activation conditions
To activate cruise control, all of the following
activation conditions must be fulfilled:
R the electric parking brake must be released.
R ESP ®
must be active, but not intervening.
R the transmission must be in position D.
Storing, maintaining and calling up a
speed Storing and maintaining the current
speed
You can store the current speed if you are driv-
ing faster than 20 mph (30 km/h).
X Accelerate the vehicle to the desired speed.
X Briefly press the cruise control lever up 0043or
down 0044.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
Cruise control is activated. The vehicle auto-
matically maintains the stored speed.
i Cruise control may be unable to maintain
the stored speed on uphill gradients. The
stored speed is resumed when the gradient
evens out. Cruise control maintains the
stored speed on downhill gradients by auto-
matically applying the brakes.
Storing the current speed or calling up the
last stored speed G
WARNING
If you call up the stored speed and it differs
from the current speed, the vehicle acceler-
ates or decelerates. If you do not know the
stored speed, the vehicle could accelerate or brake unexpectedly. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Pay attention to the road and traffic condi-
tions before calling up the stored speed. If you do not know the stored speed, store the
desired speed again.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you 0085.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
The first time cruise control is activated, it
stores the current speed or regulates the
speed of the vehicle to the previously stored
speed. Setting a speed Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has accelerated or braked to
the speed set.
X To adjust the set speed in10 km/hincre-
ments:briefly press cruise control lever
0043up
beyond the pressure point for a higher speed, or down 0044for a lower speed.
or X Keep the cruise control lever pressed beyond
the point of resistance until the desired speed is set. Press cruise control lever up 0043for a
higher speed or down 0044for a lower speed.
X To adjust the set speed in1 km/hincre-
ments:briefly press cruise control lever up
0043
to the pressure point for a higher speed or
down 0044for a lower speed.
or
X Keep the cruise control lever pressed to the
point of resistance until the desired speed is
set. Press cruise control lever up 0043for a
higher speed or down 0044for a lower speed.
i Cruise control is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. For example, if
you accelerate briefly to overtake, cruise con-
trol adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last
speed stored after you have finished overtak-
ing.
Deactivating cruise control There are several ways to deactivate cruise con-
trol:
X Briefly press the cruise control lever forwards
0087.
or X Brake.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated if: R the vehicle is secured with the electric park-
ing brake
R you are driving at less than 20 mph (30 km/h)
R ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
R you shift the transmission to position Nwhile
driving
If cruise control is deactivated, you will hear a
warning tone. You will see the Cruise Con‐
Cruise Con‐
trol Off trol Off message in the multifunction display
for approximately five seconds. Driving systems
137Driving and parking Z
i
When you switch off the engine, the last
speed stored is cleared. HOLD function
General notes The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations:
R when pulling away, especially on steep slopes
R when maneuvering on steep slopes
R when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the driver
having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away despite being braked by the HOLD function if:
R there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
R the HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressing the accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal, e.g. by a vehicle occupant.
R the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected
There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
! If the HOLD function is activated, the vehicle
brakes automatically in certain situations.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
the HOLD function in the following or other
similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
Deactivating the HOLD function (Y page 138).Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if:
R the vehicle is stationary
R the engine is running or if it has been auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/stop
function
R the driver's door is closed or your seat belt is
fastened
R the electric parking brake is released
R the transmission position D,Ror Nis engaged
Activating the HOLD function X
Make sure that the activation conditions are
met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until 0043appears in the multifunction display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first time
does not activate the HOLD function, wait
briefly and then try again.
Deactivating the HOLD function The HOLD function is deactivated automatically
if:
R you accelerate. On vehicles with automatic
transmission: only when the transmission is in
position Dor R.
R the transmission is in position P.
R you depress the brake pedal again with a cer-
tain amount of pressure until 0043disappears
from the multifunction display.
R you secure the vehicle using the electric park-
ing brake.
i After a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake. 138
Driving systemsDriving and parking
The electric parking brake secures the vehicle
automatically if the HOLD function is activated
and:
R the driver's seat belt is not fastened and the
driver's door is open.
R the engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/stop
function.
R a system malfunction occurs.
R the power supply is insufficient.
The Brake Immediately Brake Immediately message may also
appear in the multifunction display.
X Immediately depress the brake firmly until the
warning message in the multifunction display goes out.
The HOLD function is deactivated. The horn
sounds at regular intervals if you have switched
off the engine, released the seat belt and
opened the driver's door with the HOLD function activated. The sounding of the horn alerts you to
the fact that the HOLD function is still activated.
If you attempt to lock the vehicle, the tone
becomes louder. The vehicle cannot be locked
until you have deactivated the HOLD function.
i After switching off the engine, it can only be
started again once you have deactivated the
HOLD function. Parking Assist PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is an electronic
parking aid with ultrasound. It monitors the area
around your vehicle using six sensors in the
front bumper and six sensors in the rear
bumper. Parking Assist PARKTRONIC visually
and audibly indicates the distance between your
vehicle and an object.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It is
not a replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering, parking and
exiting a parking space. When maneuvering,
parking or pulling out of a parking space, make
sure that there are no persons, animals or
objects in the area in which you are maneuver-
ing.
! When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such as
flower pots or trailer drawbars. Parking Assist PARKTRONIC does not detect such objects
when they are in the immediate vicinity of the
vehicle. You could damage the vehicle or the
objects.
The sensors may not detect snow and other
objects that absorb ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic car
wash, the compressed-air brakes of a truck or
a pneumatic drill could cause Parking Assist
PARKTRONIC to malfunction.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC may not function
correctly on uneven terrain.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is activated auto-
matically when you: R switch on the ignition
R shift the transmission to position D,Ror N
R shift the transmission to position D,Ror N
R release the electric parking brake
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is deactivated at
speeds above 11 mph (18 km/h) . It is reactiva-
ted at lower speeds.
Range of the sensors General notes
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC does not take into
account obstacles located:
R below the detection range, e.g. people, ani-
mals or objects.
R above the detection range, e.g. overhanging
loads, tail sections or loading ramps of goods
vehicles. 0043
Sensors in the front bumper, left-hand side
(example)
The sensors must be free from dirt, ice or slush. They can otherwise not function correctly. Clean
the sensors regularly, taking care not to scratch
or damage them (Y page 237). Driving systems
139Driving and parking Z
Range
0043
Detection range of front sensors
0044 Detection range of rear sensors
Front sensors Center Approx. 40 in (approx.
100 cm) Corners Approx. 24 in (approx.
60 cm) Rear sensors
Center Approx. 48 in (approx.
120 cm)
Corners Approx. 32 in (approx.
80 cm)
Minimum distance
Center Approx. 8 in (approx. 20 cm)
Corners Approx. 6 in (approx. 15 cm)
If there is an obstacle within this range, the rel-
evant warning displays light up and a warning
tone sounds. If the distance falls below the min- imum, the distance may no longer be shown. Warning displays
0043
Segments on the left-hand side of the vehi-
cle
0044 Segments on the right-hand side of the vehi-
cle
0087 Segments showing operational readiness
The warning displays show the distance
between the sensors and the obstacle. The
warning display for the front area is located on
the dashboard above the center air vents. The
warning display for the rear area is located on
the headliner in the rear compartment.
The warning display for each side of the vehicle
is divided into five yellow and two red segments.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is operational if yel-
low segments showing operational readiness 0087
light up.
The transmission position of the automatic
transmission and the direction in which the vehi-
cle is rolling determine which warning display is active when the engine is running. Transmission posi-
tion Warning display
D
Front area activated
R,
Nor the vehicle is
rolling backwards Rear and front areas
activated
P
No areas activated
One or more segments light up as the vehicle
approaches an obstacle, depending on the vehi-
cle's distance from the obstacle.
From the:
R sixth segment onwards, you will hear an inter-
mittent warning tone for approximately two
seconds.
R seventh segment onwards, you will hear a
warning tone for approximately two seconds. 140
Driving systemsDriving and parking